Private Jet Charter Comparison

By nature of the business model, private jet charter offers an unpredictable travel experience—with an unfamiliar aircraft and crew for each flight—and is usually best suited for those who travel infrequently. There are approximately 500 charter operators in the United States, each with its own standards for safety and service. And these 500 operators fly approximately 3,400 aircraft with varying maintenance histories and crew standards are available for charter flights—which makes prioritizing safety even more challenging in such a fragmented market.

Availability is heavily dependent on overall demand and during peak travel periods, aircraft and crew options can be scarce. This can lower safety thresholds as well as inflate prices. Also, in the event of a mechanical issue, recoveries can be lengthy and expensive, given the complication of having to locate a new aircraft. 

With the average charter company operating a fleet of fewer than 10 aircraft, these small operators rely on a network of brokers and charter aggregators to bring their aircraft to market, creating even less transparency in terms of who operates the aircraft and to what standards. It becomes difficult for the customer in some cases to know who they are actually flying with and what they are getting for their money.